Multiplan Empreendiment Imobiliarios : malls post best Christmas sales and client flows, according to Bank of America survey

Retailers singled out Multiplan as the best shopping center administrator in the country for items such as Christmas sales, client flows, sales expectations and low vacancy rates. The data is from 'Brazil Real Estate: Tenant Health Check,' prepared by Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA), published on January 13. Some 300 tenants were interviewed in shopping centers in three major cities: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. According to the Bank, the purpose of the survey - conducted in the first week of January of this year - was to determine how the slowing economy is affecting sales and what are retailers' future expectations.

The shops in Multiplan's malls presented the best results regarding most of the topics evaluated. The company was first in Christmas sales and sales in recent months, in client flows in December and avoidance of vacancies. In addition, the performance of its MULT stock was the most homogeneous among the industry's shares in 2015, attesting to the quality and reliability of its portfolio. The market prices in these qualities, which include the best mix of shops and the unique consumer experience in the group's projects.

On average, food court outlets were responsible for the best numbers among the retail segments surveyed, posting higher sales and client flows and the lowest vacancy rates. In general, retailers were optimistic regarding future sales and expressed no intention of abandoning their mall operations, and particularly not Multiplan's properties, the survey reported. Asked about their expectations for sales over the short-term, the majority replied that the trend was they should remain stable on an annual basis.